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| Friday, January 8
Weinberger in Europe and America Today's date marks the birthday of the Czech-born composer Jaromir Weinberger, who was born in Prague in 1896. Weinberger achieved international success in 1928 with the premiere in Prague of his comic opera "Svanda dudák" (Schwanda the Bagpiper). Weinberger's new work quickly became the most widely known Czech opera after Smetana's "The Bartered Bride." Like Smetana's 19th century classic, "Schwanda" is imbued with tunes and traditions from Czech folklore. "Schwanda" has been staged thousands of times around the world and translated into more than 20 languages. Its score showcases Weinberger's gifts for brilliant orchestrations and fluent counterpoint. In fact, two orchestral excerpts -- the opera's Act I polka and Act II fugue -- became popular concert showpieces with symphony orchestras around the world. For the composer of such happy, life-affirming music, the story of Weinberger's career after "Schwanda" is a sad one. Although the opera's success led to other opera commissions, none of these proved as successful, and the rise of the Nazis forced Weinberger from his homeland. He fled first to Paris, and subsequently to New York. Weinberger tried to adapt to his new home, composing a "Lincoln Symphony" and even a set of variations on the children's song "Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree."Weinberger became a naturalized American citizen, but, despondent over what he perceived as his failure to achieve anything like his pre-war successes in Europe, Weinberger committed suicide in St. Petersburg, Florida, in the summer of 1967. |  | Music Played on Today's Program: Additional Information:
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